Shipping box, case, or crate.



G. FASSNAGHT.

SHIPPING BOX, CASE, OR CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 13, 1909.

LGWQEQIL Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

O. FASSNAGHT.

SHIPPING BOX, CASE, 0R CRATE. APILLIOATION IILED DEO.13, 1909. LWQWL 1 Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 21 tmI ED sTATEs arana orrroa.

CHRISTOFER FASSNACHT, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SECTIONAL BOX (10., OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SHIPPING BOX, CASE, 0R CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 19 13 Application filed December 13, 1909. Serial No. 532,726.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be 'it known that I, CHRIs'rorER Fass- NACHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Jo seph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping Boxes, Cases, or Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping boxes, cases or crates.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of a collapsible or knockdown box or case, which will permit the rapid assembling of the sections and detachable locking of the same withoutthe use of other means than those carried by the sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing means forstrengthening the box ends and sides, and to hingedly connect the sides, bottom and top of the box, so that they will fold in proper relation when attached to the box ends.

Another object of the invention is the provision of locking means for the ends, which are attached to members which are secured to said ends to reinforce or strengthen the same.

A further object resides in the construction of the box sections whereby, when the ends of the binding wires surrounding the box are in looking engagement, each section of the box will be interlocked independent of the supplemental lockin means used for holding the ends, sides an bottom of box together while the box is being packed.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the c0mbination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knock-down box or case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one end-of a box, showing the manner inwhich the end and side sections are assembledfor joining together. Fig. 3' is a perspective view of the box shook com-- prising the bottom, sides and top box sections, hingedly connected together by reinforcing wires. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the box, partly in section, showing the manner of locking the end sections to the bottom and side sections. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the bottom and end sections. showing end wall disengaged. Fig. (3 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member for the end sections. and the locking means attached thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a box shook 1, which consists of the top section 2, bottom section 3 and side section .4, such sections being hingedly connected to gether by reinforcing wires 5. stapled or otherwise secured to such sections; such rein forcing wires extending beyond the edges of the outside sections, and one end thereof doubled back upon themselves and the terminals twisted about the'body of the wire to form tongues 6, and the opposite ends also turned back upon themselves and the terminals twisted about the body thereof to form loops or eyes 7 so that when the box is assembled the tongues pass through the eyes when the lid is closed, and the former bent backward to effect a secure locking engagement therebetwe'en, as shown in Fig. 4.

Each section comprising the shook is provided with a cleat 8, at each end, preferably secured thereto by the same staples which secure the reinforcing wires thereto, by driving such staples through the side sections into the cleat. Each cleat is mitered at its ends 9, and provided with a semi-circular disposed and spaced from the edges thereof. Such stiffening cleats are reduced in thickness at the ends and on one side, as indicated at-15, to form tongues adapted to fit into the grooves 12 of the cleats. Each cleat is provided with a pair of locking members 16, preferably of wire, one end thereof being reinforcing or stiffening cleats 14, oppositely the shook cleats on the section forming the bottom of the box, the hooked ends 17 of the lower locking members automatically engaging the notches 11 in the shook cleat, as-

plainly shown in Fig. 2. The side sections are next placed against the end sections, the side edges of the stiffening cleats engaging the grooves in the shook cleats and the upper locking wires engaging the notches 11, on the last mentioned cleats in like manner as the bottom cleat. The box is now complete and ready for use. After being filled, the top section is closed, the upper edges of the end stiffening cleats entering the corresponding grooves in the cleats carried by the top section, and the tongue ends of the binding wires on the shock are passed through the loops or eyes on the opposite end of such wires, and are bent downwardly to form a locking engagement. When the box is to be knocked-down, the ends of the binding wires are disengaged, and the looking members which hold the side and bottom sections to the ends are sprung out of engagement with the notches, and the sections may then be separated. When the box is assembled the end sections adjoin the inner sides of the shook cleats, and the stiffening cleats engage the grooves in the shook cleats, thus providing against displacement of theends by pressure from within or without, and effecting a strong and rigid construction which, when the binding wires, which pass entirely around the box, are brought into locking engagement at their terminals, firmly locks all sections of the box together, independent of the locking means employed for holding the bottom and side wall sections to the end sections, which latter are supplemental and of use to hold such sections together during the time when the box lid is not closed and the binding wires are not made continuous around the box by bringing the ends into locking engagement.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In combination, a box comprising four side pieces, each side piece having grooved cleats on each end, with end pieces adapted to fit between the side pieces and against the inner sides of the cleats, and two cleats secured to each end piece and provided with flanges adapted to engage the grooves of the adjacent cleats on the sides.

2. In combination, a box blank consistingof fourside pieces, each side piece having grooved cleats at its outer ends, with two end pieces adapted to be placed between the side pieces and bear against the inner faces of the cleats attached thereto, and flanged cleats attached to the outer face of each end piece, the flanges of the cleats on the end pieces being adapted to engage the grooves in the cleats of the side pieces when the side pieces are closed around the end pieces.

3. In combination, a box comprising four side pieces, each side piece having grooved cleats on each end, with end pieces adapted to fit between the side pieces and against the inner sides of the cleats, cleats secured to each end piece and provided with flanges adapted to engage the grooves of the adj acent cleats on the sides, and locking members carried by the cleats on the end pieces for detachable engagement with the cleats on the side pieces.

4:. In combination, a box comprising four side pieces, each side piece having grooved cleats on each end, with end pieces adapted to fit between the side pieces and against the inner sides of the cleats, cleats secured to each end piece and provided with flanges adapted to engage the grooves of the adjacent cleats on the sides, and locking members attached to the cleats on the end pieces having hooks formed at their free ends for detachable engagement with notches in the cleats on the side pieces.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOFER FASSNACHT.

Witnesses R. G. INWOOD, GRAC M. COLE. 

